LAND OF THE LION: NEW DOCUMENTARY HIGHLIGHTS TANZANIA’S ACHIEVEMENTS IN LION CONSERVATION 

Lions have long been a powerful symbol of African pride, representing strength, courage, and unity. However, the lion population worldwide has fallen from 200,000 a century ago to around 20,000 today, mainly due to habitat loss driven by human activities.

Tanzania is one of the last strongholds for lions and now has the largest wild lion population in the world, estimated at about 8,000 individuals.

We're proud to share Land of the Lion, a newly released documentary developed by WildAid and partners that highlights the remarkable achievements made by Tanzanians in protecting the iconic species, as well as the crucial role of community conservation efforts in preserving the balance between humans and wildlife.

It is a story that inspires hope and serves as a reminder of the benefits that nature provides and of the vital importance of wildlife to a sustainable future for us all.

Enjoy the full documentary here.

EAST AFRICA’S PORTS ARE ON THE FRONTLINE IN THE FIGHT AGAINST ILLEGAL WILDLIFE TRAFFICKING 

Products from all over Africa pass through East Africa on their way to Asia and other destinations. But port workers are not necessarily aware of the value of wildlife to their countries or trained in how to spot illegal shipments. 

In 2022, WildAid and the United Nations Development Programme launched a major campaign to raise awareness among people working in the cargo shipping sector about wildlife trafficking and what they can do to help stop it.

Leading footballers from the region including Victor Wanyama from Kenya, John Bocco from Tanzania, and Bevis Mugabi from Uganda joined campaign efforts and encouraged both port workers and the public to report suspicious activity.

The campaign received a whopping 15 million impressions and 1.5 million video views across WildAid’s social channels. Campaign videos were played 339 times during prime time on TV channels across the region and recorded more than 19,000 plays on ad screens in buses and trains. Radio messaging played more than 1,100 times across 7 radio stations in the region.

The campaign was publicized on 28 static billboards and 68,040 digital billboard slots near ports and dry ports across East Africa, while we distributed 18,000 leaflets and posters and 25,000 stickers.

Wildlife crime reporting hotlines were established and/or publicized in all 3 countries.

Based on an independent study conducted in December 2022, the campaign reached an estimated 9,000 to 11,000 port workers.

According to the study: 

• 97% of port workers reported increased knowledge and awareness about illegal wildlife trafficking because of the campaign. 

• 97% of port workers are more likely to report wildlife crime because of the campaign. 

• 99% of port workers said that the campaign increased their sense of pride in their country’s wildlife.

“This campaign is what I would call a game changer.” —Port worker in East Africa

THE BAHAMAS AWARDED THE 4TH STOP IUU FISHING AWARD 

The Bahamas has long been a leader in marine conservation. Just a couple of the nation's achievements include: 

• Creating the first shark sanctuary in the Atlantic Ocean, prohibiting all commercial shark fishing in the area for the protection of more than 40 shark species, including the critically endangered great hammerhead shark. 
• Passing legislation prohibiting the harvesting, possession, purchase, and sale of sea turtles and their eggs, protecting animals such as the endangered green sea turtle, the critically endangered hawksbill sea turtle, and the vulnerable leatherback sea turtle. 

These efforts are imperative as an estimated 1/3 of all fishing catch in The Bahamas is considered illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing (IUU fishing), which harms delicate marine life and ecosystems, fisheries, and the local economy. 

We're THRILLED to announce that the IMCS Network recently awarded The Bahamas the 4th Stop IUU Fishing Award because of the nation’s successful collaboration with WildAid, The Nature Conservancy, the U.S., Canada, and other agencies committed to ending IUU fishing.

Learn more about this award and please join us in celebrating The Bahamas' leadership in safeguarding our oceans! 

91% OF SURVEYED UGANDANS INFLUENCED TO REPORT WILDLIFE CRIME BY A WILDAID CAMPAIGN 

In 2019, Uganda’s parliament passed a landmark Wildlife Act to strengthen the country’s wildlife conservation and management. The Act dramatically increased the penalties for wildlife crime to lifetime imprisonment and the maximum fine to 20 billion Ugandan shillings ($5.4 million USD).

WildAid partnered with the Uganda Wildlife Authority on a multi-year campaign to raise awareness about the new law, deter Ugandans from engaging in wildlife crime, and increase their willingness to report it. The campaign included our “Think of the family you would leave behind” billboard and poster ads that highlighted the social impact of being convicted for wildlife crime, along with a campaign video and two animated cartoons, which were created by two young upcoming Ugandan animators. 

The campaign’s reach was nationwide, and its impact was impressive! On social media alone, it logged 7 million impressions, with 151,000 engagements and 805,000 video views, while 180,000 posters were distributed in 10 languages across the country and our videos were played on 130 buses and on Uganda’s most-watched TV channel.

In a survey of 1,000 Ugandans contacted by GeoPoll in 2023: 

• 66% said they had seen or heard information about the new law.

• 91% who saw the campaign said it had an influence on whether they would report wildlife crime.

WildAid’s efforts to reduce wildlife trade and trafficking in Uganda—a key transit hub for wildlife products—will continue to grow we as expand our campaigns to key border crossing points, targeting workers at and communities living near the borders.

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